Carriage, notably for laboratory table

ABSTRACT

Movable carriage adapted to equip tables, benches and other work or handling surfaces, more particularly laboratory worktables. This carriage comprises two trains of wheels, rollers or casters, one train rolling on the table surface and being so arranged that the other train, rolling along the vertical edge of the table, remains in constant engagement with said edge, thus acting as a guide means, irrespective of the direction in which the carriage is propelled for changing its position on the table. Thus, the carriage may have a constant position in relation to the table edge.

United States Patent 1H13,632,180

[72] Inventor Francois Hauville [56] References Cited 24 rue Lalo, ParisXVP France UNITED STATES PATENTS g Q J- 2 1970 2,964,183 12/1960 Mathews312/349 x 1 3,292,559 12/1966 Cousins et 111.. 104/246 Patented 1972 3526 93s 9/1970 Grabber 296/ x [32] Priorities May 30 1969 [33] France IFOREIGN PATENTS {31] 6917754; 737,821 7/1966 Canada 211/162 Dec. 4,1969, France, No. 6941847 596,554 5/1934 Germany 312/137 PrimaryExaminerJames T. McCall 54 CARRIAGE, NOTABLY FOR LABORATORYAttornekwendemthy Llnd & Pollack TABLE n Clams 9 Drawmg Figs ABSTRACT:Movable carriage adapted to equip tables, [52] U.S.Cl 312/209, benchesand other work or handling surfaces, more particu- 104/246, 312/ 140.4,312/210, 312/250 larly laboratory worktables. [51] Int. Cl Boll 1/00This carriage comprises two trains of wheels, rollers or Field ofsml'chw 1 casters, one train rolling on the table surface and being soarranged that the other train, rolling along the vertical edge of /2246; 308/6; 269/55, 56; the table, remains in constant engagement withsaid edge, thus 23/259, 1 21 /4 05/ 79, acting as a guide means,irrespective of the direction in which the carriage is propelled forchanging its position on the table. 7 Thus, the carriage may have aconstant position in relation to the table edge.

PATENTED JAN 4 1972 SHEET 2 BF 3 PATENTED JAN 41972 sum 3 OF 3 [an 11/00/5 Hal/m L z, m van/2 z mwx. W M

CARRIAGE, NOTABLY FOR LABORATORY TABLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It iswell known to equip laboratory tables, inter alia, with carriages,static on the table surface and provided with panels of translucent ortransparent material used as screens for protecting the operator whenperforming handling steps or experiments considered as dangerous,notably on account of projections resulting therefrom.

Hitherto known carriages of the type broadly set forth herein above areadapted to travel on the table surface with the interposition ofconventional guide means such as rails, guideways, races or the like,disposed above the table, or provided on the table by construction orfitted on existing tables. These systems are attended by variousinconveniences. Thus, more particularly, they not only increase theconstruction or equipment cost of the table proper, but they arecumbersome and interfere more or less with the handlings and operationsto be performed on the work table, since they are a permanent fixturethereof.

It is the essential object of this invention to remove completely theseinconveniences; to this end, the carriage constituting thesubject-matter of the present invention, while being easily movable onthe table, remains in a constant position in relation to the table edge,without requiring any insert, accessories or guide means incorporated inor secured to the table.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a movablecarriage adapted to equip tables, benches and other work or handlingsurfaces, more particularly work tables of laboratories and the like.This carriage is utilized for displacing on the table surface anyobjects, tools, accessories or other objects which may be necessary forperforming the works and handling steps to be carried out on the table.The carriage according to this invention may also advantageously beprovided with means adapted to constitute as many devices intended forprotecting the operators against possible dangers or risks.

According to an essential feature of the present invention, thiscarriage comprises two trains of wheels, rollers, casters or equivalentmeans, one train rolling on the table surface and being so arranged thatthe other train, rolling against the vertical edge of the table, isconstantly urged for engagement with this edge, irrespective of thedirection of the impulse applied to the carriage for moving same fromone position to another position, whereby the carriage preserves aconstant position in relation to the table edge.

According to another feature characterizing this invention, the rollersof the train engaging the top surface of the table are mounted onhorizontal shafts pivotally mounted in turn to the carriage so that whenan impulse is applied to the carriage for causing its travel in one orthe other direction said rollers assume an angular position such thatthe carriage tends to follow an oblique and inward path in relation tothe table edge, whereby, during the carriage movement, the train ofrollers normally engaging the vertical edge of the table is constantlyurged thereagainst.

According to a further feature characterizing this invention thepermissible angular movements, in a horizontal plane, of the trains ofrollers engaging the top surface of the table is limited to its optimumvalue, for example by forming in the carriage elongated slots ofpredetermined, suitable length, which are engaged by the free ends ofthe shafts on which said rollers are rotatably mounted.

According to a complementary feature characterizing this invention, thecarriage is provided with a panel of translucent or transparent materialadapted to constitute a protection screen and formed with semicircularnotches, this carriage being also provided with magnetic means fordetachably coupling together a plurality of juxtaposed carriages on acommon table.

LII

According to an additional feature characterizing this invention,advantage is taken of the mobility and independence of carriages of thetype set forth hereinabove, equipped with protection screens, inrelation to the surface supporting them, for constituting, by simplyadding detachable lateral walls and a top suction box thereto, a safetyhousing or hood adapted to be set over all types of work surface in anydesired position, the length of the front of this housing being variableat will; furthermore, this housing can be used in its open or closedcondition, whether wholly or partly, due to the mobility of theprotection-screen carriages constituting the front elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational side view ofa carriage according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a plane part sectional view from above of the carriage;

FIG. 3 is a part-sectional front view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the carriage and of the table equippedthereby;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing juxtaposed, protection-screenforming carriages;

FIG. 6 is a perspective and exploded view of a safety housing or hoodcomprised of carriages according to this invention, and

FIGS. 7 to 9 are perspective views of various moduli" of such hoods.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, thecarriage 10 comprises two trains of rollers, wheels, casters orequivalent means, namely:

a train of rollers 11 having a horizontal axis and arranged in a mannerto be described hereinafter, these rollers engaging the top surface of atable 12;

a train of rollers 11a having a vertical axis and in rolling engagementwith the vertical edge 13 of table 12.

The rollers 11 are mounted on a horizontal shaft 14 mounted in turn onthe carriage so the shaft can pivot about a vertical axis or pin 15.Moreover, the inner end of shaft 14 (in relation to the edge 13 andpivot pin 15) is movable in a slot or like elongated aperture 16 formedin the proper side of the carriage.

When an impulse is applied to the carriage for causing its movement onthe table surface, for example in the direction shown by the arrow a(see FIG. 2), the train of rollers 11 having their shafts pivoted at 15and adapted to pivot through an angle or, assume an oblique position asshown by the axis b, which tends to cause the carriage to travel in adirection 0, i.e., in an oblique direction in relation to the table axisor to the longitudinal vertical edge 13 of the table; as shown, thisoblique direction 0 is directed inwards of the table. The resultant ofthe forces involved tends to urge the rollers Ila against the verticaledge 13 of the table, so as to provide a constant mutual engagementbetween the rollers 11a and the edge 13. When an impulse in thedirection a,, i.e., in the opposite direction with respect to the firstimpulse mentioned hereinabove, is applied to the carriage, the shafts 14will pivot through the angle a to a position b, symmetrical in relationto their preceding position, thus impressing to the carriage a movementin the direction 0,, i.e., also directed away from the table edge 13,whereby the rollers Ila will also be urged against this vertical edge13. Under these conditions it is clear that with the provisions of thepresent invention and irrespective of the carriage position in relationto the table, that is, even if the rollers 11a are not initially inrolling engagement with the vertical edge 13 of the table, it is onlynecessary to apply an impulse in one or the other direction to thecarriage for causing the complete carriage to assume a position suchthat the rollers 11a engage said vertical edge 13; thus, the carriagewill be constantly kept in the proper position on the table.

In the above-described example the carriage it is used on a laboratorywork table and is provided with a panel 17 of translucent or transparentmaterial constituting a protection screen.

This panel advantageously comprises on either side and at the priorlevel a pair of semicircular notches 18 enabling an operator to work orhandle equipments or tools under the best possible conditions, wellprotected by the screen.

The carriage has fitted to its side faces permanent magnets such as 19.Thus, by using a plurality of carriages it is possible to temporarilyassemble or couple them with one another and thus constitute aprotection screen consisting of a plurality of juxtaposedcarriage-supported screens (see FIG. 5). This screen disposed justbeneath a hood constitutes an economical movable hood glass panel. Theadjacent, registering semicircular notches 18 will thus form circularapertures permitting the intervention of an operator at any time alongthe protection screen consisting of the assembled carriages 10.

Finally, the carriage is provided on its front fact with a sliding plate21 permitting of concealing or on the contrary displaying twoinscriptions provided on the carriage, such as: Caution! Do NotMove-Shield in Service and Not in Serivce, thus avoiding any untimelydisplacement of the carriage and attracting the attention ofunexperienced persons on the fact that a dangerous operation is takingplace behind the protection screen.

Instead of carrying a protection screen the carriage according to thisinvention may act as a support to a tray on which miscellaneous articlesmay be placed, as may be required on all worktables or surfaces whereoperations, treatments and experiments of any nature may take place.

Now reference will be made to FIGS. 6 to 9 to describe various forms ofembodiment of safety housings or hoods comprising a plurality ofcarriages according to this invention, equipped with front protectionscreens and means for constructing a safety housing such as a laboratoryhood or the like.

The front face of the hood consists of a plurality of carriages 10according to the present invention, each equipped with a translucent ortransparent screen or panel 17 formed with semicircular juxtaposednotches 18 (which are two in number in the example shown in FIGS. 6 and7) as shown.

The lateral walls of the hood consist of translucent panels 22 carriedby a relatively heavy or solid base member 23 having its underfaceadvantageously provided with suction cups (not shown) for increasing thestability of the assembly.

The front and lateral elements of the hood have fitted thereon a suctionbox 24, for example by means of front and rear connecting members and26, respectively. The front member 25 connecting the suction box 24 tothe carriages l0 constituting the front section of the hood comprise agroove 25a adapted to be slidably engaged by the edge of the screenequipping each carriage. The rear connecting member 26 is formed withside elements 26a adapted to fit on the side panels 22.

The arrangements illustrated and described herein permit of constructingfrom standard, ease to assemble elements a hood which, by virtue of themobility and independence feature of its front component elements, canbe moved according to requirements and circumstances in any desiredposition along the worktable or surface, this table orsurface being ofany desired type (for example provided with a backboard, as shown inFIG. 7, or plain as in the examples of FIGS. 8 and 9).

On the other hand, clue to the above described features of the frontelements and also to the fact that these elements are mounted on thesuction box 24 so as to slide therealong, the hood can readily beconverted into a wholly or partially open hood by adding or removingthese front elements.

As to the lateral elements, they are detachable and therefore adapted tobe used either singly or in combination with the front elements forconstituting partitions separating adjacent working stations, orisolating a particularly dangerous or delicate piece of equipment orapparatus, or constituting one or more flame-guards or the like.

The same lateral elements disposed within the hood or housing areadapted to constitute one or a plurality of chambers of variable, equalor unequal volume, these chambers being intended for use by severaloperators each disposing of a cell" adapted to be closed more or lesscompletely by means of front elements consisting of the carriages of thetype shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 which constitute a movable protection screen.

Moreover, the length of the suction boxes 24 is equal to one multiple ofthat of a front element 10, so that by properly varying their number itis possible to obtain hoods having any desired lengths (see FIGS. 8 and9).

The safety housing, such as a hood, obtained by using the elementsaccording to the present invention is not closed completely at the rearand thus permits the use of any desired equipments or apparatusassociated with or incorporated in the work surface or worktable onwhich this housing is in stalled.

Of course, many modifications and variations may be brought to the formsof embodiment of the invention which are shown and described herein,without however departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asset forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A movable carriage for a worktable, surface or the like, notably alaboratory table comprising two trains of roller means, one trainrolling on the top surface of the table and the other train engaging thevertical edge of the table being constantly urged thereagainst, thusacting as a guide means, irrespective of the direction of the impulseapplied to the carriage for displacing same along the table, whereby thecarriage can remain in a constant position in relation to said verticaledge of the table.

2. Carriage according to claim 1, wherein said roller means of saidtrain rolled on the top surface of the table are mounted on horizontalshafts pivoted in turn in relation to the carriage so that when animpulse is applied to the carriage for moving same along the table saidroller means assume a direction so that they urge the carriage along anoblique inward path in relation to said vertical edge of the table,whereby during the carriage movement said train of roller means nonnallyengaging said vertical edge is constantly urged thereagainst.

3. Carriage according to claim 2, wherein the permissible angularmovement of said train of rollers engaging the top surface of the tableis limited to its optimum value by means of a slot formed in saidcarriage and engaged by the free ends of said shafts on which saidroller means are mounted.

4. Carriage according to claim 1 which is provided with a panel oftranslucent or transparent material to constitute a protection screen,said panel being formed with semicircular notches.

5. Carriage according to claim 1 comprising means such as permanentmagnets adapted detachably to interconnect a plurality of carriagesjuxtaposed on a same table.

6. Carriage according to claim 1 wherein movable means are provided onthe front of said carriage for concealing or displaying inscriptionsprovided on said carriage.

7. A plurality of carriages according to claim 1 constituting the frontelements of a safety housing, notably a laboratory hood, of which thelateral elements consist of detachable translucent or transparent panelscarried by a base member and supporting a suction box.

8. Movable carriage according to claim 7 wherein a safety housing hasthe front elements slidably connected to said suction box.

9. Movable carriage according to claim 7 wherein said suction box ismounted on said lateral elements by detachable connecting members.

10. Movable carriage according to claim 7 wherein said suction box has alength corresponding to one multiple of the length of the front elementto permit the assembling of hoods having any desired length.

11. Movable carriage according to claim 7 wherein the inner space ofsaid safety housing is partitioned by lateral panel elements.

1. A movable carriage for a worktable, surface or the like, notably alaboratory table comprising two trains of roller means, one trainrolling on the top surface of the table and the other train engaging thevertical edge of the table being constantly urged thereagainst, thusacting as a guide means, irrespective of the direction of the impulseapplied to the carriage for displacing same along the table, whereby thecarriage can remain in a constant position in relation to said verticaledge of the table.
 2. Carriage according to claim 1, wherein said rollermeans of said train rolled on the top surface of the table are mountedon horizontal shafts pivoted in turn in relation to the carriage so thatwhen an impulse is applied to the carriage for moving same along thetable said roller means assume a direction so that they urge thecarriage along an oblique inward path in relation to said vertical edgeof the table, whereby during the carriage movement said train of rollermeans normally engaging said vertical edge is constantly urgedthereagainst.
 3. Carriage according to claim 2, wherein the permissibleangular movement of said train of rollers engaging the top surface ofthe table is limited to its optimum value by means of a slot formed insaid carriage and engaged by the free ends of said shafts on which saidroller means are mounted.
 4. Carriage according to claim 1 which isprovided with a panel of traNslucent or transparent material toconstitute a protection screen, said panel being formed withsemicircular notches.
 5. Carriage according to claim 1 comprising meanssuch as permanent magnets adapted detachably to interconnect a pluralityof carriages juxtaposed on a same table.
 6. Carriage according to claim1 wherein movable means are provided on the front of said carriage forconcealing or displaying inscriptions provided on said carriage.
 7. Aplurality of carriages according to claim 1 constituting the frontelements of a safety housing, notably a laboratory hood, of which thelateral elements consist of detachable translucent or transparent panelscarried by a base member and supporting a suction box.
 8. Movablecarriage according to claim 7 wherein a safety housing has the frontelements slidably connected to said suction box.
 9. Movable carriageaccording to claim 7 wherein said suction box is mounted on said lateralelements by detachable connecting members.
 10. Movable carriageaccording to claim 7 wherein said suction box has a length correspondingto one multiple of the length of the front element to permit theassembling of hoods having any desired length.
 11. Movable carriageaccording to claim 7 wherein the inner space of said safety housing ispartitioned by lateral panel elements.